President APJ Abdul Kalam conferred the awards at an impressive ceremony at Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A total of 106 prominent personalities were honoured with the civilian awards this year. Of them, 50 were covered in the first phase of the awards function held on March 20.

Today, 56 personalities were to receive the awards, but three of them Hindi writer Mahashweta Devi (Padma Vibhusan) and scientist Kunnath Puthiyaveetil Padmanabhan Nambiar and bureaucrat P S Appu (both Padma Bhusan) -- did not turn up for the function.

While Justice Khare and Mr Correa received the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, Ms Dalmia, Mr Rao and Mr Tarun Das were honoured with Padma Bhushan.